Page 36 - The Origin of the Species

THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES
36
it has probably increased the value of his car by many thousands of dollars.”
Thompson later wrote that “it’s clear that by documenting the rediscovery of
NOJ 391 underneath the identity of Fred Hunter’s 100S took it from a $150,000
car to the $400,000 that it sold for.”
It also bears mentioning that the 100S Registry, which maintains the records
for the 100S and Special Test Cars assigns the history of SPL 224B to AHS 3804,
relying on the documents discussed and the written and oral representations
that Geoffrey Healey made over the years.
Consider also that Tom Kovacs, a noted and respected marque specialist, has
written following consultation with both Geoffrey Healey and Roger Menadue
that “NOJ 391 was stripped down after the 1954 season, to be rebuilt as a ‘100S’
to be given away to Ed Bussey who was a friend of the Healey family. Much
of the original bodywork was removed and replaced including the grille. The
distinctive original ‘fan-shaped’ grille was replaced with the oval grille of the new
100S model, which obviously meant replacing the surrounding metal too. The
aluminum body was painted bright red, and a black interior installed. The reborn
car was almost ready to ship to its new owner, but at the last moment Donald
Healey realized a shortage of new 100S racecars to replace the Special Test Cars
for the 1955 season. This ‘new’ 100S would be borrowed for the Mille Miglia
endurance race (finishing third in class and eleventh overall), and then again for
(the) Daytona Beach speed trials and for the Sebring endurance race (finishing
6th) before it was finally handed over to its new owner.
“Ed Bussey was himself an enthusiastic racer and he drove his ex-works
racecar in various SCCA races. After Bussey sold the 100S in 1959, it passed
through the hands of a couple more owners. Somehow, apparently, its full racing
history wasn’t communicated to SCCA racer Fred Hunter when he bought it in
1966. After Mr. Hunter stopped racing the car, he put it in long-tern storage. He
decided to get quotes for its professional restoration in 1988. While preparing
to quote the job, [I] realized this car wasn’t quite the 100S its owner thought
it to was! [I] contacted Geoff Healey and Roger Menadue. Very interested, they
inspected it and excitedly confirmed its identity.” (This was the inspection that
William Severin Thompson recorded on video. Thankfully, once the vehicle’s
significance was fully appreciated, the decision was made not to perform a
restoration on it).
While it is not possible to confirm SPL 224B’s participation in all the events
that are referenced in the Hyman Ltd. history, namely the Mille Miglia and
Sebring in 1954 and Nassau (as AHS 3804) in 1956, there is little serious debate
(except from Jarick) that the vehicle competed in the other events listed (keeping
in mind the numerous errors regarding drivers and rankings contained in the
Hyman Ltd. record).
A significant and historic racecar, SPL 224B (AHS 3804) participated in some
of the biggest competitive events of the period, while recording several admirable
results against some of the most iconic competitors of the era including Stirling
Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio, Eugenio Castellotti, John Fitch and Phil Hill. As with
other works racers of the time, some legitimate questions exist as to its precise
record, which would require several hours of additional research to confirm with
exactitude, but the preparer of this monograph is confident that the car’s resume
is essentially correct as advertised with the caveat that the items raised above
require further examination to confirm or refute.
(OPPOSITE) The
disassembled vehicle contains
numerous attributes that are
unique to the Special Test
Cars and patina consistent
with the competition record
claimed for SPL 224B. (Robert
Visser)